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. 2018 Oct;28(10):3321-3332.
doi: 10.1007/s11695-018-3420-8.

Taste Changes after Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review

Kasim Ahmed  1 , Nicholas Penney  2 , Ara Darzi  1 , Sanjay Purkayastha  1   3
Affiliations

Taste Changes after Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review

Kasim Ahmed et al. Obes Surg. 2018 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Alterations in taste perception and preferences may contribute to dietary changes and subsequent weight loss following bariatric surgery.

Methods: A systematic search was performed to identify all articles investigating gustation, olfaction, and sensory perception in both animal and human studies following bariatric procedures.

Results: Two hundred fifty-five articles were identified after database searches, bibliography inclusions and deduplication. Sixty-one articles were included. These articles provide evidence supporting changes in taste perception and hedonic taste following bariatric procedures. Taste sensitivity to sweet and fatty stimuli appears to increase post-operatively. Additionally, patients also have a reduced hedonic response to these stimuli.

Conclusions: Available evidence suggests that there is a change in taste perception following bariatric procedures, which may contribute to long-term maintenance of weight loss following surgery.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Gustation; Obesity; Olfaction; Taste.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed Consent

Does not apply.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram showing the results of the search and the exclusion process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Schematic of changes in sensory organs in response to taste and smell following bariatric procedures
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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